Mold wheel indexing and magazine selector apparatus



Nov. 15, 1966 K. DEBUS 3,285,396

MOLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS Filed 001:. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l Wul' Fig.1

INVENTOR ga f Dabu:

K. DEBUS Nov. 15, 1966 MOLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 71 72 321 INVENTOR Nov. 15, 1966 K. DEBUS 3,285,396

MOLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A Qr/ De /5 Nov. 15, 1966 K. DEBUS 3,285,395

MQLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 5 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR Mari 04 6a;

Nov. 15, 1966 K. DEBUS 3,285,396

MOLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR IL/QF [N b/.1 a"

W Z; all /7 0 United States Patent 3,235,396 MQLD WHEEL INDEXING AND MAGAZINE SELECTOR APPARATUS Karl Debris, Bad Hamburg vor der Hohe, Germany, assignor to Linotype G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,222 22 Claims. (Ci. 199-11) The present application is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application Serial No. 236,469, now abandoned, filed November 5, 1962 and entitled, Mould Wheel Rotating Device.

The present invention relates to a mold wheel indexing and magazine selector apparatus for a typographical casting machine, such as a Linotype line casting machine.

Typographical casting machines having a plurality of magazines for matrices and a corresponding number of distributors, so called mixer machines, are known which permit the composition of a printed text of mixed fonts and different sets of matrices, which is particularly advantageous for advertisements.

However, the operation for adapting the known machine to this specific operation are very time-consuming and difiicult and interrupt the composing work of the operator. The disadvantages of known apparatus for producing a printed text composed of different fonts have precluded their use for composing advertisements.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known apparatus serving this purpose, and to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for composing a text of mixed fonts as required for advertisements.

Another object of the invention is to provide means serving this purpose which are either manually controlled, or are operated under the control of a record carrier tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a line casting machine of known construction having a mold wheel, means for the remote controlled indexing of the mold wheel independently of the drive means which normally turn the mold wheel.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to an improvement of a typographical line casting machine, and one embodiment of the invention comprises a mold wheel; a main drive means; a motor; means for selectively driving the mold wheel from the main drive or from the motor; and selector means controlling the motor for indexing the mold wheel to a selected position, and being located remote from the mold wheel.

Preferably, coupling means are provided having a first coupling position for connecting the mold wheel with the main drive, and a second coupling position for connecing the mold wheel with the motor so that the mold wheel is indexed while being disconnected from the main drive. Switching means are provided in the circuit of the motor for first starting the same in the second position of the coupling means, and for then stopping the same when the mold wheel has been indexed to a selected position.

Manually operated selector keys are provided for operating the switching means, but it is also possible to control the switching means by signals produced under the control of a record carrier tape, and it is advantageous to combine both constructions in one machine so that the operations can be either manually controlled by the operator who composes the text, or automatically carried out.

In accordance with the invention, the key switches by which the magazine selection is controlled, can also 3,285,395 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 be used for controlling the indexing of the mold wheel. Each pos1tion of the mold wheel renders a mold operative which is associated with a set of matrices stored in a magazine associated with the respective mold. A coupling key switch is used for connecting the mold wheel indexing device with the circuit of the magazine selector device, if desired.

In this manner, the magazine changing device described in chapter 27 of the Linotype Manual can be combined with the novel control device for indexing the mold wheel. In accordance with the invention, the indexing of the mold wheel, and the changing of the magazine may be controlled by signals produced by the read-out head under control of sensed recordings on a record carrier tape. A coded recording consisting of punched holes disposed in accordance with a code may represent a specific magazine for a specific font and a particular position of the mold wheel. In this manner it is possible, for instance, to use with a machine equipped with four magazines, eight different fonts with different sizes and point numbers for the purpose of composing a mixed text 01' an advertisement.

A particularly great variety in the font combination, can be achieved very simply in accordance with the invention by coupling the control devices for indexing the mold wheel and for changing the magazines, so that only the last command before the coded recorder indicating the end of the line causes the indexing of the mold wheel. This permits it to cast a line of brevier font on a primer depth, which is a frequent requirement in typographical operations, and facilitates the work substantially.

A continuous composing and casting operation can be achieved by storing the common control signals for indexing the mold wheel and for selecting the magazines until the last lines of matrices which is to be cast by an operative mold in a certain position of the mold wheel, has been cast. The otherwise unavoidable time difference between the composition and the casting of a line with the turning movements of the mold wheel necessary for the selection of fonts can be fully used for the composion of following lines.

In one embodiment of the invention, a pinion engaging a peripheral gear of the mold wheel is used for indexing the latter, and is coupled with a drive pinion of the remote controlled motor by which the mold Wheel is indexed. This construction makes it possible to adapt existing line casting machines to the apparatus of the invention.

In order to prevent operations of the line casting machine during the transport of a line of matrices while the mold Wheel is indexed for the use of another mold, in accordance with the invention the main drive of the machine is rendered ineffective by stopping the line of matrices by means of an electromagnetically operated stop latch until the selected mold is in an operative position.

It has been found advantageous to control the indexing of the mold wheel by a positioning device in order to assure the exact position of each mold in the operative position. The positioning device has a number of switches corresponding to the number of molds, and when the mold wheel has been indexed to a position in which a desired mold is operative a cam opens a switch of the positioning device so that the turning of the mold wheel is terminated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a line casting machine provided with the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a detail of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a part of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a locking arrangement for preventing transport of a line of assembled matrices; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a line casting machine A, is shown in outline only, since this machine is well known and manufactured under the name Linotype. The machine is described, for example, in the oflicial manual of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, Brooklyn, New York, copyright 1940, and entitled Linotype Machine Principles, also in the publication of the Linotype G.m.b.H., Berlin and Frankfurt in 1961, and entitled Linotype-Instruktionsbuch, and in many other publications including periodicals such as the Linotype-Post published by the Linotype G.m.b.H. in Berlin and Frankfurt.

' Therefore, constructive details of the line casting machine, Which are well known to those skilled in the art, will not be described in detail in the following description of the apparatus of the invention.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the machine has a plurality of magazines B which can be selectively placed in operative positions for supplying matrices of particular fonts. The selection of magazines is controlled by a magazine selector device C. A mold wheel D has several molds E and is indexed by an indexing device F which is remote controlled. A knife block G is located adjacent the mold wheel.

The magazine selector device C and the indexing device F for mold wheel D are connected to a common control device H located at the operating station I where a keyboard L is also provided. The device for stopping the assembled line, which will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 5, is designated M in FIG. 1. A switch N is shown in FIG. 1 which is connected into a circuit to permit an indexing of the mold wheel only when the linecasting machine is in a position of rest. This switch includes a contact 1 shown in FIG. 6, whose function will be described hereinafter.

A manually operated switch is also provided at the operating station and includes a contact u whose function will be described with reference to FIG. 6 hereinafter. Lines f, c, l connect the indexing device F, the magazine selector device C, and the keyboard L with the control device H.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which illustrate the indexing device F and the mold wheel D in detail, mold wheel 1 is mounted for turning movement in the usual manner, and has four molds, two of which are indicated by reference numerals 3 and 4. The mold wheel has a toothed rim on its periphery which meshes with a pinion 6 which is secured to a control rod 7 for movement therewith in longitudinal direction, but is freely turnable.

' A sleeve 61 is secured to pinion 6 and has two spaced flanges 71 and 72 on opposite sides of an inner flange sleeve 61 by which the sleeve is mounted for turning movement on shaft 7. Gear 6 has a recess receiving ircular flange 10, and an inner bore turnable on a 1 101 of shaft 7. When shaft 7 is shifted in longidirection as indicated by the arrows 8 in FIG. 4, shifted between the position shown in FIG. 3a

in which a coupling portion 91 is spaced from a coupling pin 9 on flange 10, and a coupled position inwhich pin 9 is located in portion 91 so that flange 10 is coupled with pinion 6 for turning movement.

Flange 10 is a portion of a hollow shaft 11 which is driven by a main drive shaft 13 and connected with the same by gears 12. Shaft 7 is mounted within shaft 11 for sliding movement in axial direction.

A pin 18 passes through a bore in shaft 7 and connects a flanged sleeve 17 with shaft 7. Slots are provided in the hollow shaft 11 permitting axial movement of pin 18 with sleeve 17, and such movement in one direction is opposed by a coil spring 19 abutting a flange of shaft 11. Sleeve 17 has an annular groove in which a slide member of a fork 16 is located so that displacement of fork 16 about a pivot pin in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 will cause compression of spring 19 and shifting of shaft 7 in axial direction to a position in which pinion 6 is shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 so that coupling pin 9 of flange 10 is no longer coupled with pinion 6, and pinion 6 cannot be driven by shafts 13 and 11. However, the pinion remains in meshing engagement with the toothed rim of the mold wheel.

The pivoted fork 16 is connected with the armature 15 of a coupling magnet 14 which, when energized, turns fork 16 in clockwise direction to shift shaft 7 and gear 6 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, as explained above.

When coupling magnet 14 is de-energized, spring 19 returns sleeve 17 to the left so that pinion 6 is again coupled by coupling pin 9 with a flange 10 of shaft 11.

When coupling magnet 14 is energized by means which will be explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6, and its armature 15 displaced to the left, a pin 20, best seen in FIG. 4, engages a switch 21 which controls the circuit of a brake motor 22 whose shaft is connected by a gear transmission 23 with a pulley driving a belt 24, see FIGS. 2 and 4, by which a pulley on a shaft 25 is driven. Shaft 25 carries a gear 26 which is positioned to mesh with pinion 6 when the same is shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, and downward as viewed in FIG. 4 to a position in which coupling portion 91 is separated from coupling pin 9.

Drive shaft 25 carries a worm gear 27 meshing with a gear on the shaft of a positioning device 28 which includes a cam for successively actuating and opening positioning switches P to P of which only switches P and P are indicated by reference numerals in FIG. 2. The four positions of the positioning device 28 correspond to four positions of the mold wheel 1 and to four molds of the same. Since gear 26 and shaft 25 drives the positioning device 28 and the mold wheel over gear 6 in synchronism, each positioning switch P to P is opened exactly at the moment in which an associated mold of the mold wheel is in an operative position.

As will be explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6, opening of a positioning switch P to P causes immediate stopping of the brake motor 22 which is simultaneously de-energized and braked in an automatic operation. Consequently, shaft 25, gear 26, and pinion 6 are momentarily stopped, and pinion 6 which meshes with the toothed rim 5 of mold wheel 1, stops the mold wheel in the correct operative position of the corresponding mold practically at the moment in which the respective positioning switch P to P is opened.

It will be understood that during the normal operation of the line casting machine, drive shaft 13 drives through gears 12 and shaft 11 with flange 10 and coupling pin 9, pinion 6 so that the mold wheel 1 is turned in the usual manner. However, when coupling magnet 14 is energized, shaft 7 is shifted and moves pinion 6 to a position in which coupling pin 9 no longer drives pinion 6, and in which pinion 6 meshes with gear 26. Since the armature of coupling magnet 14 causes start of motor 22 by switch 21, motor 22 becomes operative to index the mold wheel in the position disconnected from the main drive shaft 13. As soon as one of the positioning switches P to P is opened by the turning by the positioning device 28, the motor 22 is stopped and coupling magnet 14 is de-energized. Consequently, mold wheel 1 is in a position in which the selected mold thereof is operative.

When a composed matrix line assembled on the assembler slide of the assembler elevator of the line casting machine is in the first elevator transferred to the casting position, the mold wheel is operated by the main drive shaft 13 in the usual manner. If in accordance with the invention, the main drive shaft 13 does not drive the mold wheel, but the same is indexed by motor 22, as described above, it must be prevented that the composed matrix line is transferred to the first elevator. A device serving this purpose is illustrated in FIG. 5. A locking magnet 33 has a winding and an armature 331 cooperating with a pivotally mounted stop latch 32 which has a locking projection 321 cooperating with a finger 74) of the assembler slide, not shown, a line of matrices 72 is shown to be assembled between finger 70 and the longer finger 71, and the assembler slide is normally moved in the direction of the arrow 73 and 74 to place the assembled line of matrices in the first elevator for transport to the mold wheel. When locking magnet 33 is energized by an impulse, as will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6, locking latch 32 is turned by armature 331 against the action of spring 34 to a position in which locking portion 321 is located in the path of movement of finger 70, and thus stops the movement of the assembled matrices 72 while the mold wheel is being indexed by motor 22.

A switch 35 is mounted on stop latch 32. Switch 35 is connected into the circuit of motor 22 and prevents the start of the indexing device of the mold wheel until stop latch 32 has stopped the movement of the assembled line into the first elevator.

Referring now to the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, the lower portion of the diagram shows brake motor 22 whose rotor forms a unit with a brake consisting of a rotating permanent magnet, and a stationary electromagnet with a brake release coil. Due to the effect of the permanent magnet, the rotor is always braked if not connected to a voltage. When the motor is started, the brake release coil produces a magnetic field opposed to the field of the permanent magnet so that the brake is released and the motor can immediately start. Whenever the circuit of the motor is interrupted, the brake becomes immediately effective to stop rotation of the motor. Coupling magnet 14 is connected in series with a relay contact s and is parallel with a resistor and a capacitor. A motor start relay MS has a winding connected in series with a relay contact s and switch 21 which is operated by coupling magnet 14, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. Relay contacts s and s are controlled by a starting relay S which has a holding contact S The upper portion of the diagram includes switch 35, described with reference to FIG. 5 and including a contact i. Four selector key switches L L L L are provided for manually selecting one of the molds of the mold wheel 1. The key selector switches have auxiliary contacts L to L," and L to L,,'. Positioning switches P to P,,, described with reference to FIG. 2, are connected in series with the contact L to L,,. The right hand lower corner of the upper portion of FIG. 6, also shows locking magnet 33 described with reference to FIG. 5. Switches L to L are provided which are connected to sensing means for sensing coded recording on a record carrier tape or are manually operated so that switches L to I serve as selector means for selecting the mold wheel position in the same manner as the selector key switches L to L The switch u is normally open and is manually controlled by switch actuator 0 shown in FIG. 1 when a composed line of matrices is to be transported to the casting position. Switch 35 is closed when the transport slide for the composed line is blocked by latch 34 under control of the energized locking magnet 33 which is energized when in the automatic record carrier tape controlled operation, a command to rotate the mold wheel is given. Coupling switch K K is operated when the indexing device F is to be coupled with the magazine selector device C. The four molds of the mold wheel are now associated with four magazines. Switch 1 is the release contact which is closed when the machine is in the initial position of rest. Switch e is opened when the indexing device F has accomplished the setting of a mold. Switch e is only effective when contact k of the coupling switch is closed and contact k of this switch is open. Consequently, the magazine selector device is coupled with the mold wheel indexing device and controlled by magazine selector keys or by the read-out head of a record carrier tape having coded recordings representing the mold wheel positions and the magazines as described in the US. Patent 2,273,032.

Mold wheel relays G to G control relay contacts g; to g several relay contacts being controlled by each mold wheel relay. A series of magazine selector relays R to R controls relay contact r to r a plurality of relay contacts being controlled by each magazine selector relay.

On the keyboard of the machine, four keys are provided for selecting one of the molds of the mold wheel. Then follows a coupling key controlling the coupling switch with the contacts K K upon whose actuation the keys for the mold selection are locked While the magazine selecting device is coupled with the mold indexing device. Additional magazine selector four keys L to L serve for selecting the magazine, and when the coupling key is actuated, operation of the magazine selector keys effects simultaneously the operation of the mold indexing device to index the mold wheel to the position associated with the respective selected magazine. The four magazines contain different fonts, or matrices of different point size.

The machine can be controlled by the keys to perform in three different ways. First, if the coupling key is not actuated, the indexing of the mold wheel is manually controlled by the keys L to L which control the mold wheel indexing device. Secondly, if the coupling key is actuated, the magazine selector keys L to L are manually operated for selecting a particular set of matrices, and the mold wheel is automatically indexed to a corresponding position to render a mold operative which is associated with the matrices of the selected magazine. Thirdly, the machine is controlled by a program tape, in which event the coupling key is actuated.

In the first manual operation, when the coupling key is not actuated, the molds of the mold wheel are selectively selected by operation of corresponding keys, and the selection of the magazine carried out independently of the selection of the mold position so that any combination between the mold of the mold wheel and the available magazines is possible.

In manual operations with the coupling key actuated, the selection of the mold takes place automatically together with the selection of an associated magazine for matrices. Once the magazine is selected, the command signal for the selection of the corresponding mold is stored, so that the indexing of the mold wheel follows a certain time after the movement of a selected magazine to the operative position.

When the operations are carried out under control of a record carrier tape having coded recordings representing particular selected magazines and associated mold wheel positions the coupling key is actuated, and the machine operates automatically under the control of the coded recordings to select magazines and to index the mold wheel to the corresponding position in which a suitable mold thereof is operative- The signal produced by a specific recording associated with a magazine is stored and after 7 a delay used for actuating the indexing device of the mold wheel.

The above described operations can be accomplished by the circuit shown in FIG. 6.

The brake motor 22 is connected across the contact of a motor relay MS to a power supply providing a three phase current. Switch 21 operated by coupling relay 14, is connected in series with the relay contact s and the motor relay MS.

Coupling magnet 14 is connected in parallel with the motor relay and in series with contact s of start relay S. Switch 21 and relay contacts s .9 are make contacts and normally opened.

Start relay S is connected over a normally closed switch 2 to the positive terminal of a direct current supply. Switch e clears all electrical signals for the indexing of the mold wheel when the same arrives in an indexed operative position. Limit switch e may be operate-d by pin 20 of armature 15 of the coupling magnet 14. The other terminal 39 of start relay S is connected by the holding contact s and a switch FP to the negative terminal of the direct current stored. Switch FF is actuated by the mold wheel in each of four operative positions, and determines the precise angular position to which the mold wheel is indexed, in addition to the switches P to P of the positioning device 28 shown in FIG. 2, which roughly stop the mold wheel in any one selected operative position. A line 40 connects the four positioning switches P to P with contact s of the start relay S.

Positioning switches P to P are respectively connected in series with make contact L to L, and to the contact g to g In the normal rest position, the contacts are opened. A common 'line connects these contacts with the negative terminal 43. Selector key switches L to L are connected over signal lamps to the voltage source 43, 45, and operate, when actuated, respectively, not only contacts L to L but also contacts L to A line 48 includes a switch 1 which is closed when the machine is in an initial position of rest, and is located at the vise of the machine. Switch 35 has been described with reference to FIG. and is connected in series with switch i.

Locking magnet 33 is directly connected to the negative pole of the voltage source. The other end of the winding of the locking magnet is connected by relay contact g to 5,, of relay G to G to a bus bar 49 which is connected by switch e to the positive pole of the voltage source. Mold wheel relay G to G are connected to bus bar 49 over relay contact g to g The relay contacts of relay G to G are all make contacts open in the position of rest. Between relay contacts g to g,, and the respective associated relay coils of the mold wheel relays G to G several lines branch off each of which comprises a diode 50 and is connectable to point 51 which is connected by transfer switch it to the positive pole of the source of voltage.

Mold wheel relays G to G are connected by associated relay contacts g; to g and a bus bar to the negative pole.

Each mold wheel relay is also connected by a diode 53 to an associated magazine selector relay R to R respectively associated with different magazines B which contain difierent sets of matrices and cause, when energized selection of a particular magazine B by magazine selector device E so that a specific set of matrices is supplied to the assembler slide. Magazine selector relays R to R are connected to the positive pole by resistors 54. Between each resistor 54 and the associated magazine selector relay R to R a line branches off including relay contacts r to r,, which are also controlled by relays R to R When a relay R to R is energized, the other relays R to v R are de-energized.

'Eachmagazine selector relay R to R is connected by lines'SS to 55 and a relay contact r to r to the negave pole v43. Contacts r to r are holding contacts ch' form part of the magazine selector means C. From '8 each line to 55 a branch line 56 to 56 branches ofl to which normally opened selector switches LK to LK are connected, which are operated under control of the record carrier tape and by read-out means. Lines 55 to 55 are interconnected by a circuit including a plurality of diodes 59.

As explained above, several operations are possible, and an operation will first be described in which the mold wheel is indexed under manual control independently of the selection of the magazine, which is achieved by not actuating the coupling key with coupling switch k with the contacts R and R It is assumed that the first mold is to be placed in operative position without selecting the associated magazine. The key of selector switch L is pressed and contact L is closed so that start relay S is connected to the source of voltage. Since contact L is also closed, and relay S closes holding contact s relay S remains energized after release of selector key switch contact L Relay contacts s and s are closed by relay S, and contact s prepares the circuit for the motor relay MS, while contact s energizes coupling magnet 14 which moves shaft 7 so that pinion 6 engages the gear 26 of shaft 25 which is driven by motor 22. Armature 15 and pin 20 operate switch 21 so that the circuit of the motor relay MS is closed, and motor 22 starts to turn the mold wheel toward the first indexing position. Positioning device 28 is also turned by shaft 25 and gears 27 so that positioning switch P is actuated and opened when the mold gear arrives at the first angular position in which the first mold is operative. In this position, switch FF is also opened so that the angular position of the mold wheel is precisely determined. Opening of positioning switches P to P by the cam of the positioning device will have no effect on the associated contacts L to L which are open.

When the positioning device opens positioning switch P the circuit of the previously closed contact L is interrupted so that start relay S is de-energized and opens its contacts s s s Since holding contact s opens, relay S is disconnected from the source of voltage, and coupling magnet .14 is de-energized after a delay caused by the resistor and capacitor connected in parallel with the windings thereon.

The delay improve the exact positioning of the mold wheel, since it assures that the brake motor 22 has braked mold wheel to a standstill before pinion 6 has been pulled back by shaft 7 by spring 19.

The mold wheel is now in a position in which the first mold is operative.

As explained above, the machine can also be operated in such a manner that each selected mold corresponds to a selected magazine having a particular set of matrices. For this operation, the coupling key on the keyboard is operated, and contact k closes while contact k opens. Contact k causes illumination of a signal lamp while contact k interrupts the circuit to the contact L to In this manner, the selector key which operates selector switches L to L are rendered inoperative, and cannot be used for controlling the operation. Assuming that selector key switch L is operated to select the first magazine and the associated first mold of the mold wheel, the machine is started, and at the same time, a key contact connects the negative pole of the voltage source to the winding of magazine selector relay R The other end of the winding is connected to the positive pole. Relay R is energized and holds itself by holding contact r so that the command signal for actuating the indexing device is stored while the first magazine is moved to its operative position. When the first line of matrices coming from the first magazine has been assembled in the assembler slide, switch u (or O in FIG. 1) is actuated by the operator. The Winding of mold wheel relay G is energized, and the relay holds itself by holding contact g which is connected to the minus pole, and by the holding contact g connected to the positive pole over switch e. When relay G; is energized, relay contact g and gf are closed, and contact g prepares a circuit from the negative pole over positioning switch P and holding contact s of the start relay S. Relay contact gf prepares a circuit from the positive pole over switch e and contact gf so that locking magnet 33 is energized and stop latch 32 is operated to stop the assembled matrices. The downward movement of the latch causes closing of switch 35 so that finger 70 temporarily actuates switch i. The closing of switch i and the release of contact f, which was closed when the first elevator arrived in the normal initial position, connect the start relay S to the voltage source so that the same starts the motor 22, as described above whereupon the mold indexing operation follows and the mold wheel is placed in its first operative position in which the first mold associated with the first selected magazine and its matrices is operative.

When coupling magnet 14 is de-energized, and armature 15 with pin 20 returns to its normal position, end switch e is opened for a short time so that the mold wheel relay G is de-energized. Locking magnet 33 is also de-energized, and latch 32 is lifted by spring 34 and permits movement of the line of matrices into the elevator. Relay contact 11 when closed upon energization of relay R closes when a signal arrives for relay R and shunts the winding of relay R so that the same releases its holding contact.

The third operation takes place under control of a record carrier tape which is provided with coded recordings designating a selected magazine and the associated selected mold corresponding to a particular angular position of the mold wheel. The switch LK is closed by a relay, not shown, actuated under control of the read-out head sensing the tape, and relay R is energized. The following operation corresponds to the above-discussed operation under manual control of selector switches L to L A diode matrix consisting of a circuit containing groups of diodes 59 permits even greater versatility in the control of the operations, inasmuch that a multiple change of fonts is possible within the assembled line by shifting the first operative magazine to an inoperative position and shifting another magazine to the operative position for discharging matrices. The last signal given at the end of the line causes energization of the start relay S and indexing of the mold wheel.

It is possible to cast letters in higher point numbers with slugs cast to the same when the last control command at the end of the line is given so that only the indexing of the mold is used.

Contacts r; to r of relays R to R are connected on one side by diodes 59 with input 55 to 55 of the other relays, and on the other side connected to the positive terminals of the relay coil. Current limiting resistors 54 connect the positive inputs of the relay windings with the positive pole of the voltage source.

If in the manner described above, magazine selector relay R has been energized by switch LK the positive input of the relay Winding is connected by contact r to the negative input of relays R to R by diodes 59. If a new command is given over one of the switches LK to LK negative potential reaches the positive input of relay R so that its winding is shunted and the re-' lay is de-energized. In this moment, the current limiting resistor 54 determines the amount of electric current and prevents a short circuit. Each new current command compensates and clears the preceding command.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of line casting machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a mold wheel indexing device cooperating with magazine selector means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential char acteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

i. In a line'casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means having angularly spaced molds and mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions in which different molds are operative; main drive means; motor means; means for selectively driving said mold wheel means either only from said drive means or only from said motor means; first selector means connected with said last mentioned means and said motor means, and including a plurality of manually operated switches respectively associated with said positions of said mold Wheel means and being selectively operable for causing indexing of said mold wheel means by said motor means to corresponding positions, said manually operated switches being located remote from said mold wheel means; a plurality of magazines respectively associated with different sets of matrices and with corresponding positions of said mold wheel means; second selector means including a plurality of selector switches respectively associated with different magazines, and means controlled by said selector switches to render a selected magazine operative, said selector switches being connected with said first selector means for causing indexing of said mold wheel means by said motor means to a position associated with the respective selected magazine and with a corresponding mold.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second selector means includes a plurality of manually operated keys respectively associated with said selector switches for operating the same so that a magazine and a corresponding mold is selected by operation of a selected key.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 and including means for reading out a record carrier tape having different recordings associated with different magazines and with associated different positions of said mold wheel means, and being connected with said selector switches for selectively operating the same so that different recordings cause selection of different magazines and associated molds.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said selector means includes an electric circuit including relays and relay contacts controlled by the same, said selector switches being connected with said relays of said circuit of said first selector means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein one of said circuits includes means for rendering said manually operated switches of said first selector means inoperative; and including means for selectively operating said selector switches.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively operating said selector switches include a plurality of manually operated keys for respectively actuating said selector switches.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively operating said selector switches include read out means for reading out a record carrier tape having recordings respectively associated with said magazines and with associated positions of said mold wheel means so that different recordings cause operation of different selector switches and selection of different magazines and associated molds.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 and including manually operated coupling switch means for connecting said circuits of said first and second selector means, and being operable to disconnect said circuit of said second selector means from said circuit of said first selector means so that said mold wheel means can be indexed under the control of said manually operated switches withoout the selection of a magazine.

9. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; motor means; means for selectively driving said mold wheel means either. only from said main drive means or only from said motor means; and selector means controlling said last mentioned means and said motor means for indexing said mold wheel means to a selected position when driven by said motor means, and being located remote from said mold wheel means.

10. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; electric motor means, coupling means having a first position for connecting said mold wheel means with said main drive means and a second position for connecting said mold wheel means with said motor means so that said mold wheel means is indexed while being disconnected from said main drive means; and switching means in the circuit of said motor means for first starting the same in said second position, and for then stopping the same when said mold wheel means is indexed to selected position.

11. A machine according to claim wherein said switching means include manually operated key switches respectively associated with said positions of said mold wheel means and located remote from the same at an operating station.

12. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; motor means; electric coupling means having a first position for connecting said mold wheel means with said main drive means and a second position for connecting said mold wheel means with said motor means so that said mold wheel means is indexed while being disconnected from said main drive means; and switching means in the circuit of said motor means for first starting the same in said second position, and for then stopping the same when said mold wheel means is in a selected position, said switching means being connected into the circuit of said electric coupling means for moving the same to said second position before starting said motor means and for moving the same to said first position while said motor means is stopped.

13. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; electric motor means; electric coupling means having a first position for connecting said mold wheel means with said main drive means and a second position for connecting said mold wheel means with said motor means so that said mold wheelmeans is indexed while being disconnected from said main drive means; a control switch in the circuit of said motor means operated by said coupling means in said second position for starting said motor means, and operated in said first position for stopping said motor means; and selector switching means in the circuit of said electric coupling means for shifting the same between said positions so that said mold wheel means is turned and stopped in a selected position.

.14. In a typographical casting machine, in combination,

mold wheel means "mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; electric motor means; electric coupling means having a first position for connecting said mold wheel means with said main drive means and a second position for connecting said old; wheel means with said motor means so that said heelmeans is indexed while being disconnected said inain drive means; a control switch in the circuit of said motor means operated by said coupling means in said second position for starting said motor means, and operated in said first position for stopping said motor means; positioning means having a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to said positions of said mold wheel means and being driven by said motor means between said positions, said positioning means including a plurality of positioning switches respectively actuated in said positions of said positioning means and connected into the circuit of said motor means; and a plurality of selectorswitches in the circuit of said coupling means and of said positioning switches and operable for causing said coupling means to move to said second position, and to then move to said first position when the corresponding positioning switch is operated whereby said mold wheel means is indexed and stopped together with said motor means in a selected position by the actuated positioning switch.

15. A mold wheel indexing apparatus according to claim 14 and including manually operated selector keys for operating said selector switches.

16; A mold wheel indexing apparatus according to claim 15 including read-out means responsive to record carrier tape for actuating selected selector switches in accordance with information recorded on said record carrier.

17. A mold wheel indexing apparatus according to claim 16 and including a plurality of magazines for different fonts, each movable to an operative position; selector means including a plurality of magazine selector relay means operatively connected with said magazines, respectively, so that an actuated magazine selector relay means causes movement of the corresponding magazine to said operative position, said plurality of selector switches being respectively operable for actuating said relays means, when actuated by said read-out means so that a selected magazine is operative when said mold wheel means is indexed to a selected position.

18. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions; main drive means; motor means; means for selectively driving said mold wheel means either only from said main drive means or only from said motor means; selector means controlling said last mentioned means and said motor means for indexing said mold wheel means to a selected position when driven by said motor means, and being located remote trom said mold wheel means; and locking means preventing operation of the machine during indexing of said mold wheel means by said motor means, said locking means being actuated by said selector means when the same are operated.

19. A mold wheel indexing apparatus according to claim 14 including electrically operated locking means for preventing operation of the machine, said locking means being connected into the circuit of said selector switch and actuated by each of the same.

20. A mold wheel indexing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said mold wheel means has a plurality of molds respectively operative in said positions of said mold wheel means; and including a plurality of magazines for different sets of matrices or fonts, each movable to an operative position; selector means including a plurality of magazine selector relay means operatively connected with said magazines, respectively, so that an actuated relay means causes movement of the corresponding magazine to said operative position; and a plurality of other selector switches for actuating said relay means, and for controlling said coupling means to move to said record and first posi tions, said other selector switches controlling said relay means and said coupling means so that a selected magazine is operative when said mold wheel means is indexed to a selected position, for rendering a mold associated with the selected'mag-azine operative.

21. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions and having molds respectively operative in said positions; a plurality of magazines for different fonts, each magazine movable to an operative position; main drive means, motor means; means for selectively driving said mold wheel means either only from said main drive means or only from said motor means; and selector means controlling said last mentioned means and said motor means for indexing said mold wheel means to a selected position when driven by said motor means, said selector means including a magazine selecting device for placing in said operative position a magazine selected in accordance with the mold operative in the selected position of said mold means.

22. In a typographical casting machine, in combination, mold wheel means mounted for indexing movement between a plurality of positions and having molds respectively operative in said positions; a plurality of magazines for different fonts, each magazine movable to an operative position; main drive means; motor means; electric coupling means having a first position for connecting said mold wheel mean-s with said main drive means and a second position for connecting said mold wheel means with said motor means so that said mold wheel means is indexed while being disconnected from said main drive means: a control switch in the circuit of said motor means operated by said coupling means in said second position for starting said motor means and in said first position for stopping said motor means; selector switch means in the circuit of said electric coupling means for shifting the same between said positions so that said mold wheell means is turned and stopped in a selected position; and a magazine selecting device for placing in said operative position a magazine selected in accordance with a selected position of said mold means and including magazine selector relays associated with said magazines, respectively, and selector switches operable for selecting actuating said magazine selector relays and controlling said selector switch means so that a mold associated with a selected operative magazine is rendered operative in the position in which said mold wheel means is stopped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1944 Hilpman 19948 4/1945 Urban 199--48 X 

1. IN A LINE CASTING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, MOLD WHEEL MEANS HAVING ANGULARLY SPACED MOLDS AND MOUNTED FOR INDEXING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS IN WHICH DIFFERENT MOLDS ARE OPERATIVE; MAIN DRIVE MEANS; MOTOR MEANS; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVING SAID MOLD WHEEL MEANS EITHER ONLY FROM SAID DRIVE MEANS OR ONLY FROM SAID MOTOR MEANS; FIRST SELECTOR MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS AND SAID MOTOR MEANS, AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCHES RESPECTIVLEY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID POSITIONS OF SAID MOLD WHEEL MEANS AND BEING SELECTIVELY OPERABLE FOR CAUSING INDEXING OF SAID MOLD WHEEL MEANS BY SAID MOTOR MEANS TO CORRESPONDING POSITIONS, SAID MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCHES BEING LOCATED REMOTE FROM SAID MOLD WHEEL MEANS; A PLURALITY OF MAGAZINES RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF MATRICES AN D WITH CORRESPONDING POSITIONS OF SAID MOLD WHEEL MEANS; SECOND SELECTOR MEANS 